Then, five great years on Lifestyle, writing features on off-the-wall subjects (Did you know economists think the Tooth Fairy’s payout for a tooth has remained stagnant compared with the rest of the economy’s inflationary pressures over the past few decades?).

Follow that with a 180-degree turn: The trials and tribulations of the court system, where every day you see humanity’s weaknesses and darkest corners.

Today, it’s the environment. Nuclear energy, in particular. Very rewarding.

Why do I share this?

Well, in all those years, I’ve never had so many people as today who approach me to tell me they didn’t know I was a journalist who wrote for the hometown newspaper.

And what do they say? Such as, maybe, how do the technical advances in mining natural gas impact the future of nuclear power?

Not quite.

“Hey, man! You do that beer column!”

There are a number of things it has revealed to me.

Among them is that there is a thriving interest in Greenville’s beer culture — particularly among those who are exploring it all anew.

I’ve noticed, too, that in a culture populated by people with an astounding amount of technical knowledge, people who have traveled the world to discover and understand beer, that there is very little in the way of “beer snobbery.”

Don’t be afraid to ask the bartender or brewer an elementary question. They will tell you — usually with enthusiasm and not in a way that makes you feel like an outsider and, most important, with a spirit of subjectivity that encourages inclusiveness.

So, yeah, I do that beer column. And it’s turned out to be cool.

OK, a couple things to mention …

• The folks at Greenville’s Thomas Creek have been promising the bottling of a new brew, and the Castaway Chocolate Orange IPA is hitting shelves after its initial bottling run and months on tap.

The IPA is “crisp and citrusy,” with an “atypical dark copper brown color from malted chocolate wheat.” It’s hop-heavy, with the addition of bitter orange peel and Citra hops.

• Sam Adams is excited about offering its Boston Lager in cans for the first time. The decision comes after two years of research and development, the brewery says. As with other breweries moving to offer cans, the idea is that summertime means more outdoors time in places where bottles aren’t allowed.

• The Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium is excited to announce its third annual “Anderson On Tap” tasting May 21. It will feature more than 20 craft beers, including the likes of Thomas Creek, RJ Rockers, Terrapin and Dogfish Head. More on that later.